Former Barcelona president sends message to Messi amid return talks: “This is his home”

Speaking to TyC Sports (h/t SPORT), former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has once again appealed to PSG superstar Lionel Messi to consider returning to the club this summer.

Messi has less than three months left on his current contract with PSG which will expire on June 30. Talks of a possible return to Barcelona in the summer have been gaining weight in recent weeks as the club look to bring the prodigal son for one last dance.

Gaspart, who was the president of Barcelona when they first signed Messi, had recently spoken about the return rumours, stating that the Argentine coming back to the club would an exceptional moment, while also adding that he would never be whistled at Camp Nou.

Now, Gaspart has once again shared his views on the topic of Messi returning to Barcelona, saying: “If he decides for financial reasons, he will surely have better offers, but if it is with his heart, there will be no place in the world where he is loved as much as here.”

“There they whistle him and here we cheer him.”

Earlier this week, when Barcelona played Real Madrid in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at Spotify Camp Nou, supporters broke into loud chants of Messi, showing the love and respect they still have for him.

Gaspart touched on that point as well and said: “It is a clear reminder that this is his home and Leo knows how much he is loved.”

The former Barcelona president then expressed his dismay over the fact that the club could not renew the 35-year-old’s contract back in 2021, forcing him to leave for PSG.

“[The club] couldn’t cater for what Leo deserved and what they were committed to paying him. It was very sad, because a great player was leaving and because we couldn’t fulfil what had been agreed,” Gaspart said.

But he insisted that even though Barça are not in a great position financially right now, the time might be right for Messi and the club to reunite again.

“The idea is that he can close his career and stay at the club for life. This has nothing to do with money. The club is not at its best at the moment, but now he has a great chance,” he signed off.